Thousands Of Farm Birds Die In Southern Azerbaijan

Birds across the world have received vaccines against avian flu (epa) 5 January 2006 -- Azerbaijani media today report that thousands of farm birds have died in the country's south in the past few days.
The Turan news agency says mass deaths of poultry have been registered in Masalli district, near the border with Iran.


The agency quotes regional health officials as saying tests are being conducted to determine the cause of the deaths.


Meanwhile, the government today said it had temporarily banned food imports from Turkey after two teenagers died from bird flu in Eastern Anatolia.


Turkey has a common border with the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan.


(Turan/APA)